Chlorine measurement/filter testing/brine container monitoring of a water treatment system

ABSTRACT

The water treatment system, particularly reverse-osmosis system, comprising a water line with a plurality of filter stages, is characterized in that before and after at least one filter stage a respective line branches off from the water line, which is provided with a valve adapted to be switched by a control device and leads to a pressure sensor device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a fluid system for quality/function monitoring and/or control of physically and chemically acting filter stages of a water pretreatment for the operation of a reverse-osmosis or another water treatment or water monitoring system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Filter routes have the disadvantage that the remote diagnosis of chlorine and hardness or the monitoring of the degree of soiling of mechanical filters, respectively, cannot be carried out or can only be carried out by taking great efforts.

Moreover, it is necessary for reasons of safety, particularly in dialysis water treatments, that a time-consuming manual documentation of the water hardness and/or of the chlorine content should be carried out daily, especially in order to furnish evidence that the toxic chlorine has been removed from the liquid by the filters used.

Existing chlorine sensors for online measurement are often not chlorinated at regular intervals and cannot provide any reliable measurement results in the absence of chlorine in the liquid.

To remove hardly soluble salts, such as calcium and/or magnesium, from the water, softeners are often used. When softeners are used with acidic cation exchange resins, these must be regenerated by means of sodium chloride brine solution at regular intervals.

This regeneration is normally carried out with sodium chloride solution which is provided in a so-called brine container in which salt is dissolved in a predetermined liquid amount. Failure of the regeneration process e.g. because of a missing sodium chlorine brine solution may lead to serious calcification of the downstream systems.

Moreover, softeners tend to show a microbial growth with subsequent contamination of the liquid flowing therethrough because of the relatively large resin volume.

Problems are posed by filter blocking because the resulting exchange of filter material is normally accompanied by operational interruption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the aim of the invention to permit the development of an actuator-sensor control and software which enable the user to evaluate the functionality of a system by online access and to obtain, on this basis, a remote diagnosis about the current operational state.

To meet the normative and/or in-house requirements, the necessary documentation evidence can be furnished simultaneously together with the automatic recording by way of the connected electronic data processing system.

It is possible on account of the desired system-specific evaluation by analysis and visualization of the operational parameters to achieve an acyclic distribution of the service operations and thus a reduction of the number of services.

On this basis an economic and ecological procedure is possible as the deployment of trained stuff on site can thereby be coordinated in an improved way and failure caused by wear can be avoided in a targeted and preventive way.

To avoid the aforementioned drawbacks and to comply with the objective, respectively, partial streams are passed under one aspect of the present invention to the corresponding sensor before and after the filter stages by means of switched valves and are evaluated by electronic measuring devices. These measuring devices may here also be an integral part of subsequent systems of a water treatment and/or also a control room. A bidirectional operation for influencing actuators and sensors is here also possible.

Advantageously, with an electronic pressure sensor different mechanical filter stages are monitored online with respect to their degree of soiling by measuring the pressures and determining the pressure difference and an automatic backwashing program is also started in the case of suitable filters with a corresponding automatic backwashing system.

Under another aspect of the invention, use is made of an online measuring chlorine sensor the safety-relevant function of which is checked according to the invention by supplying electrolytically produced chlorine of a known concentration to the sensor at regular intervals. The measurement result is electronically recorded and documented. The chlorine can be produced from an existing brine solution.

The function of the softener, i.e. the filtration and reduction of the hardly soluble calcium and magnesium salts, can be monitored by an ion-sensitive calcium and/or magnesium sensor.

The fill level of the salt water container and the residual volume of the salts in the brine container, respectively, have to be monitored in a simple way by means of a weighing device. To this end the brine container is placed on a constructional element with weighing cell. Since the constructional understructure can advantageously be used at any time independently of the brine container used, brine containers that are already in use can also be equipped with the monitoring device. It is possible to indicate the brine volume directly or as a signal-light solution with message color; transfer to and recording in a control room or a subsequent water treatment system, which may e.g. be configured as an RO system, is also possible. Inspection and documentation of the salt supply in the brine container which has to be carried out by the operating personnel daily can thus be dispensed with.

A regular slight chlorination of the softener during regeneration by chlorine which is electrolytically produced from the brine container of the softener reduces the microbial growth in the softener resin and thereby ensures a more sterile liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows is a schematic diagram of a pre-filtration unit according to the invention.

FIG. 2 a is a cross-sectional view of a salt water container according to the invention.

FIG. 2 b is a top perspective view of a weighing platform according to the invention.

FIG. 2 c is a bottom perspective view of the weighing platform of FIG. 2 b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a pre-filtration unit according to the invention with a mechanical-chemical filter stage (4), an actuator-sensor monitoring unit (3 ), an associated electronic evaluation unit (2), and a possible electronic unit (5) pertaining e.g. to a downstream reverse osmosis system, wherein the electronic unit (2) may also be configured as a control-room electronic and may communicate with the electronic unit (5).

The mechanical-chemical filter stage (4) is only shown by way of example with respect to the selection of the arranged filter stages so to as to illustrate the function of the monitoring operation according to the invention.

The exemplary arrangement begins with the water inlet (6), a shut-off valve (8), and an automatically back-washable pre-filter (9) with drain valve and drainage connection. This is followed by a safety shut-off valve (10) which is activated by a leakage indicator (22 a) with liquid sensor (22 b).

Further components may be a pipe separator (11) and a backflow preventer (12) for avoiding contamination of the water inlet (6).

At low water supply pressures it is possible to add a pressure increasing unit (13). A further filter stage (14) may be configured as a cartridge filter (14 a), sand filter (14 b) or also as a hollow fiber filter (here not shown) in the nano or ultra-pore range.

(15) shows a softener, e.g. illustrated as a twin softener, which is normally filled with strongly acidic, cation-containing resin which upon exhaustion has to be regularly regenerated with NaCl solution from the salt water treatment (16). It is here important to monitor the fill level of the salt in the salt water container (16). This is done with a weighing device (17), which is designed as an independent constructional understructure.

According to FIG. 2 the weighing device (17) consists of a weighing cell (46) the signal of which can be amplified by electronics (44) on the weighing platform (42), electronically processed, or can be processed by electronics (2) and also by possibly successive electronics (5). Preset weight limit values of the brine container can here be monitored and optically or acoustically indicated or remotely diagnosed by technical electronic data processing. The weighing cell (46) is fastened to the weighing platform (42) by means of screws (48) such that a third of the brine or salt weight weighs on the measuring foot (47). Side boundaries (45) are mounted for the lateral guidance of the brine container.

During the regeneration process of the softener (15) chlorine-containing solution can be formed with the help of the electrolysis device (18) from the salt water flowing towards the electrolysis cell. It goes without saying that the chlorine concentration depends on the brine concentration, but substantially on the magnitude of the electrically supplied power to the electrolysis cell. The microbial growth in the softener resin is thereby strongly reduced.

(19) shows a twin carbon filter/dechlorination device which is used for the filtration of the chlorine.

Filter stage (20) as a fine-filter stage can remove the smallest particles from the filter water (7) before it is e.g. supplied to a reverse osmosis system or a drinking water installation.

The actuator-sensor unit (3) can be equipped with an electronic water meter (21) for recording and reporting the water consumption.

For monitoring the chlorine content of the supplied liquid a chlorine sensor (30) is preferably positioned in a chlorine sensor chamber (29), either for the measurement of the whole chlorine or of the free chlorine.

The chlorine sensor chamber (29) has an inlet and a free outlet. The release valve (28) is directly positioned in front of the sensor chamber. Usually, the supplied liquid can be chlorinated by the water supplier with chlorine of different concentrations; depending on the hygienic state, a chlorine input may be temporarily missing. In such a case no statement can thus be made on the proper function of the sensor (30).

For regularly checking the chlorine sensor the test valve (27), the brine suction valve (24), and the release valve (28) are opened and the electrolysis cell (18) is switched on. The brine or the chlorine-containing solution is sucked in a selected concentration ratio from the container (16) via the adjustable brine suction valve (24) and the pump (23), mixed with liquid via flow throttle (25), passed on to the measuring chamber (29), recorded via chlorine sensor (30) and evaluated with electronics (2) and (5), respectively.

The proper function of the measuring cell (30) is ensured by this regular testing. It is within the meaning of the present invention to provide and monitor the sodium chloride brine solution also exclusively for the purpose of chlorine sensor monitoring, independently of a softener or other filter stages. The suction line of the brine solution and the electrolysis cell for the electrolytic chlorine production are here independent of the brine suction line and the electrolysis cell of the softener.

Pump (23) is shown by way of example as a venturi pump; other pump types are possible for performing the function; in such a case the chlorine-containing solution is supplied in metered amounts by means of a pump (not shown) from line 24 a into line 25 a.

For monitoring the correct carbon filter function/dechlorination device (19) a valve, e.g. (40) or (27), may first be opened. Likewise, release valve (28) is opened. If chlorine is contained in the supplied liquid, this is recorded via the previously verified chlorine sensor (30).

Thereupon, the valves (33, (31) or also (32) are successively opened; likewise, the chlorine release valve (28) is opened. For instance, the filter stages of the carbon filter can be tested. If the chlorine sensor records the absence of chlorine, the checking of the filter is successfully completed. It is within the meaning of the present invention that this measurement can also be carried out independently and recorded technically by electronic data processing.

For monitoring the filter stages (9), (14), (30) the pressure sensor (41) is acted upon selectively and successively before or after the filter stages with the pressures prevailing at the filter stages via the valves arranged in FIG. 1.

For instance, the pressure drop of the filter stage (9) is monitored by measuring the inlet pressure via valve (37) and the outlet pressure is monitored by the valve (38).

As an equivalent to the said measurement, FIG. 1 shows the measurement of the pressure drops by switching the valves (39/40) for the filter stage (14) and the valves (31/32) for filter stage (20).

A determination of the pressure drops at softening stage (15) and dechlorination stage (19) is also possible by way of a successive switching of the valves (40, 27, 33, 31).

An atmospheric relief of the pressure sensor (41) in general or between 2 measurements can be carried out via valve (34) and also (28).

By measurement of the flow through line 6 with water meter/flow meter (21) or also by a corresponding flow measurement in a subsequent treatment process, the pressure values measured on the filters can be calculated by means of electronics (2, 5) as standard or mean values and a warning, exchange, flushing or maintenance time can be predicted for preset pressure differences.

Since the determination of the filter pressure differences normally regards relative measurements, the use of a single pressure sensor (41) is advantageous both in terms of costs and in terms of the calibration efforts.

As a rule, the water inlet pressures on line (6), e.g. on filter (9), are known, so that the pressure sensor (41), acted upon with a known pressure before the beginning of a measurement cycle, must be verified during maintenance or during inspection by a technician.

An advantageous development of the pressure measurement is the determination of mean pressure values by means of electronics (2, 5) on the respective filters (9, 14, 15, 19, 20) in that e.g. 50 measurements are combined to form a mean value and are represented over an exemplary period of 1000 operating hours. Changes that are due to the service life end of the sensor (41) or the blocking of the aforementioned filters can be recognized technically by electronic data processing or predicted, respectively, and remotely inquired.

To monitor the correct function of the softener (15), valve (40) is first of all opened and hard water is supplied over measuring chamber (35) to the calcium sensor (35) through the opened valve (34). Subsequently, softened liquid is passed via flow throttle (25), valves (27, 34) into the measuring chamber (35) to the ion-sensitive calcium sensor (36).

Legend 1. Pre-filtration with sensor package 2. Electronics sensor package 3. Actuator and sensor unit 4. Pre-filtration components 5. Electronics post-filtration 6. Water inlet 7. Filter water 8. Shut-off valve 9. Back-flushable pre-filter with cleaning valve 10. Safety shut-off valve 11. Pipe separator 12. Backflow preventer 13. Pressure increasing unit 14. Fine-filter stage 2 15. Softening stage 16. Salt water treatment/brine tank 17. Weighing unit 18. Electrolysis cell 19. Dechlorination stage/carbon filter 20. Fine-filter stage 3 21. Water meter/flow meter 22. Leakage indicator with sensor 23. Brine pump 24. Brine suction valve 25. Flow throttle 26. Backflow preventer 27. Chlorine sensor test valve/calcium check valve I 28. Chlorine sensor release valve 29. Chlorine sensor chamber 30. Chlorine sensor 31. Chlorine check valve II/fine-filter stage 3 inlet pressure 32. Chlorine check valve III/fine-filter stage 3 outlet pressure 33. Chlorine check valve I 34. Calcium sensor release valve 35. Calcium sensor chamber 36. Calcium sensor 37. Fine filter stage 1 inlet pressure 38. Fine filter stage 1 outlet pressure 39. Fine filter stage 2 inlet pressure 40. Fine filter stage 2 outlet pressure/calcium test valve 41. Pressure sensor  6a Lines  6b 16a 19a 24a 25a 42. Platform 43. Adjustable feet 44. Electronics 45. Side boundary 46. Weighing cell 47. Measurement foot 48. Mounting of weighing cell 

1. A water treatment system, particularly reverse-osmosis system, comprising a water line with a plurality of filter stages, wherein before and after at least one filter stage a respective line branches off from the water line, which is provided with a valve adapted to be switched by a control device and leads to a pressure sensor device.
 2. The water treatment system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor device is a joint pressure sensor for measuring a pressure drop of all filter stages.
 3. The water treatment system according to claim 2, wherein the pressure sensor is connected to an electronic evaluation device.
 4. The water treatment system according to claim 1 wherein an automatic backwashing system and an automatic backwashing program are provided for each filter stage.
 5. The water treatment system according to claim 1 wherein the filter stages comprise a back-flushable pre-filter with cleaning valve, a fine filter and an ultrafine filter.
 6. A method for the function monitoring of the filter stages of a water treatment system, particularly a reverse-osmosis system, wherein before and after at least one filter stage partial streams of the water are supplied to a pressure sensor which measures the respective pressure drop for each filter stage.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein measurement values generated by the pressure sensor are electronically evaluated.
 8. The method according to claim 6 wherein an automatic backwashing program is started when a predetermined pressure difference is reached.
 9. The method according to claim 6 wherein measurement results are recorded and documented electronically.
 10. The method according to claim 6 wherein mean values of the pressure difference are determined on the respective filters by means of electronics. 